Garment bag



R. R. SMITH 2,365,303

GARMENT BAG Filed June 3, 1942 INVENTOR A'LPH R. SMITH ATTORNEY h a garment bag with trate portions of the erably the loop l'l Patented Dec. 19, 1944 GARMENT BAG Ralph R. Smith, Lakewood, Ohio, usignor to National Carbon New York Company, Inc., a corporation of Application June a, 1942, Serial no. mass (01. zoo-v) 7 Claims.

This invention relates to garment bags and more especially to an improved supporting frame for such bags. v I

It has been customary to employ wire frames and the like for supporting a number of garment hangers, and to enclose and protect such garment hangers, and the garments thereon, with a fabric or other covering supported by the frame. The

present invention provides an improved framepermittlng the garment bag to be collapsed so as to occupy a minimum amount of space. The present invention also provides simpler and more durable support for the to and bottom portions of the bag.

The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide an improved frame for supporting a garment bag; to provide a top spreader frame for a garment bag'that is of simplified and more durable construction; to provide in such a spreader frame parts that are so relatively movable that the frame may be folded into a more compact unit; and to provide .a bottom spreader frame of improved and simplified construction that will withstand hard usage. These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing disclosing a typical embodiment of the present invention.

In the drawing, Fig. l is a perspective view of frame;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-4 of Fig. 1, with a central portion removed.

Generally speaking, the invention comprises a top spreader frame F located at the top of a garment bag G, about which frame the. bag is draped. A hanger bar B is pivoted to the frame F so that the bar may be swung upwardly into substantially the plane of the frame One or more supporting hooks H are swiveled to the bar B substantially in the plane, of the bar so that the hook or hooks also may be swung to lie in the plane of the frame and flat against the top of" the bag when the frame is in the collapsed position.- A bottom spreader frame S imparts the desired contour to the lower portion of the bag and enables the bottom to support relatively heavy objects.

The top spreader frame F comprises a flat loop l1 formed or a single length of. wire imparting the desired shape to the top of the bag G. Prefis rectangular .in shape, the

parts broken away to illusand of the top of the bag.

lengthbeing slightly in excess of the length of a conventional coat hanger, and the width being sufllcient to accommodate as many hangers as socket 23 is parallel to and adjacent to the inner desired. The frame F is provided with two aligned eyelets l8 located on Opposite sides of the frame along an axis closely adjacent the plane of the loop I1. Each eyelet is formed by a single inverted turn in the wire of the loop I! at a point preferably at the middle of the long side of the loop. The loop l1 and the eyelets l8 thus may be composed of a single piece of wire, the ends of which may be twisted or welded togethenfor example, at one end of the loop. The frame F fits inside of the bag (3 adjacent to of and lies'in a horizontal plane with the top edges of the bag resting against the frame and the eyelets slightly below the plane of the loop.

The hanger bar B is located within the confines of the frame F and, when in use, depends therefrom on pivots free to swing about the axis of the eyelets l8. The bar B preferably comprises a single length of wire, bent into substantially U-shape to provide a central horizontal rod 25, two spaced vertical arms 24, and two outwardly projecting horizontal ends it for securing the bar B to the frame F. The terminals of the ends l9 are bent around the lower part of the respective eyelets ll to form eyes 2|, as best seen in Fig. 2, thereby pivotally and permanently securing the bar B to the frame F. When the bar B is swung through a 90 arc in either direction from its suspended position, the eyes 2| engage the loop I! at portions thereof adjoining the eyelets l8, and thereby limit further movement of the bar B after the latter is folded to lie close to and substantially in the sameplane with the frame F. Each of the arms 24 is coiled into a vertical helix located at the, junction points of the ends l8 and the arms 24, thereby forming a socket 23 for each of the normally vertical stems or lower ends 22 of the two suspending hooks H. The axis of each side of its associated arm 24, with the axes of the two sockets in the central plane of the bar B, so that the weight of the garments on the bar B is transmitted directly through the arms 24 and sockets 23 to the hooks H, and so that each hook may be swiveled about the axis of its stem into the plane of bar 13, as shown by broken lines in Fig. 2, when the device is to be folded. A hanger holder or rod 25 is located between the arms 24 and may be bent to provide notches along its length for supporting spaced relation.

the top therecoat hangers. in mutually into the bottom,

Each socket 23 is fixed on the bar B, and may consist of a single tum onwire but preferably comprises substantially two complete turns to provide a more stable swivel connection for each stem 22. By forming the sockets 23 of slightly less than two turns, the arms 24 are oifset slightly from the ends l9, which offsets are useful in locating the lower portion of the U-shaped bar B substantially exactly in'the plane of the frame F when the bar B is swung upwardly until the arms 2l are aligned with the loop H.

The end of each stem 22 is upset adjacent its lower end, as by forming a flange 28 at the lower endpf the stem; and outwardly extending ears 21 are struck from each stem 22 a. short distance above the flange 26, best shown in Fig. 2. The flange 28 and the ears 2! on each stem 22 are located adjacent opposite ends of a socket 23 and thus permanently connect each hook H to the bar B but permit each hook to swivel about the axis of its retaining socket 23.

. As shown in the drawing, the garment bag G comprises a substantially air-tight and dustproof. fabric enclosure consisting of a top H, depending side walls l2, and a bottom Hi. The bag G may consist of paper, cellulose derivatives, woven fabric, or similar sheet material, but preferably is made of relatively heavy synthetic sheet material, such as plasticized vinyl resin sheets, known in the trade as Krene fabric. A slide fastener ll of conventional design may extend along a slit 10 running lengthwise of one of the sides position. The bag preferably is reenforced along the top and side edges i as by a suitable binding.

tape 1'8 stitched or adjoining parts so as to provide a substantially air-tight seal. A washer or ferrule 28 may be cemented or otherwise secured to the top H about the aperture 29 through which each hook H projects, so as to reenforce the top of the bag against wear, bag.

It is customary with garment bags of the type herein-disclosed, to place shoes, containers of moth-deterrent, and other relatively heavy objects in the bottom of the bag. Unless suitable pre-- caution is taken, the bag may not safely withstand the weight of these objects, and if pointed shoes or similar articles are dropped carelessly they may tear the bag and shortenits useful life. As shown in Figs. .1 and 3, a bottom spreader frame S is providedto hold the bottom of the bag in its proper shape and to suitably reenforce the same so as to withstand greater weight. The frame S preferably has the configuration desired for the lower section of the bag, e. g., rectangular, and may consist of a light-weight flat wire loop 3| of the same general type and size as the loop H. The loop 3] is provided with one or more reenforcing webs which may be sewed or otherwise secured thereto. Preferably such webs comprise a reenforcing sleeve 32 formed of fabric or other like material that extends completely about the loop 3i in tightly stretched condition so as to provide a doubleweb reenforcement for the bottom [3. The

sleeve 32 may be formed by sewing a section of fabric into an open-ended bag just large enough to receive the loop 3!, so as to stretch the sleeve across the loop. The open end of the sleev may be closed by stitching or cementing when in assembled position. When heavy objects are placed or dropped into the garment bag G, the reenforced I! to allow access to the bag,.whi1e providing a relatively dustproof and air-tight joint when in,the closed otherwise secured along the.

and to provide a better seal for the frame 8 supports the load by distributing the weight throughout the entire bottom of the bag.

The improved frame and bag may be quickly and easily folded compactly into a flat package for shipping or other purposes. The folding operation is accomplished by removing the garment bag from the supporting rod R, withdrawing the garment holders from the bag. and swiveling the hooks H to the dotted line position, as shown in Fig. 2 so that they lie substantially in the plane of the hanger bar B. Then, by using the hooks as handles, both the hooks H and the-bar B may be swung 90 in either direction about the axis of the ends I8 substantially into the. plane of the top H, and of the loop H. The entire top frame of the bag G then lies completely fiat. With thev slide fastener H left slightly open at the top to allow'for the escape of entrapped air, the bag is folded up progressivel from the bottom until its sides are wrapped about the frame 8 and until the latter lies flat against the frame F and top I I.

Although the preferred form of the invention is disclosed herein in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications are possible without departing from the principles pf the invention or sacrificing its advantages.

Iblaim:

1. A garmentbag frame comprising a spreader frame having two oppositely disposed eyelets located along an axis closely adjacent the plane of said spreader frame; a hanger bar having terminals extending through said eyelets and thereby pivotally connecting said bar to said frame, said bar also having two sockets fixed in spaced apart relation on said bar respectively equidistanbfrom said eyelets and terminals with axes substantially intersecting said eyelet axis, an sp sed transversely to said eyelet axis, said a portion thereof shaped to provide a garment 40 hanger rod depending from said sockets and l avinga clear space therebetween; and a pair of suspending hooks severally secured in said sockets but free to swivel relatively thereto, all parts of said hanger bar lying in substantially the same plane for pivotal movement about said eyelet axis, and the swivel axis of said hooks being disposed in said plane and transversely to said axis, the construction and arrangement being such that said hanger bar with its depending hanger rod and said hooks may be positioned to lie in substantially' the same plane with said spreader frame.

. 2.. A garment bag frame comprising a top spreader frame formed of a flat loop of wire having two oppositely disposed eyelets located along an axis closely adjacent the plane of said spreader frame, said spreader frame being adapted to lie horizontally within said bag at the top thereof; a hanger bar within said loop and comprising a generally U-shaped wire, the ends of which extend through said eyelets and thereby are pivoted to said loop about a horizontal axis substantially in the plane of said loop, and the bottom generally horizontal part of the U-shaped wire being bent to provide notches for supporting the coat hangers in mutually spaced relation; a pair of hooks each having a vertical stem; and a pair of vertical sockets respectively equidistant from said eyelets and terminals with axis in the plane of said loop and swivelly receiving said stems, said sockets each comprising at least one turn of the wire forming said bar, and being located substantially in the plane of said hanger bar and having its swivel axis disposed transversely to said hori- 75 zontal axis, whereby said hook may be swivelled bar also having aseasos into the plane of said bar, and said bar with its hooks so swiveled may be pivoted withinsaid eyelets to lie substantially in the'same plane with the spreader frame.

3. A garment bag frame comprising a top spreader frame formed of a wire bent into generally rectangular form and adapted to extend in a horizontal plane at the top of said bag; eyelets formed by said wire at-midpoints of the opposite sides of said frame; a depending hanger bar of wire extending between said opposite sides, said bar including horizontal portions extending inwardly from said eyelets, arms depending from said portions, and a horizontal rod joining said arms, said hanger bar being free to swing upwardly about said portions substantially into the plane of said spreader frame; and supporting hooks, each hook having a vertical stem swivelled within a helical socket formed by at least one turn of the wire forming said bar, such sockets being formed at the inner ends of said portions.

4. A garment bag frame as claimed in claim 3 wherein each socket comprises substantially two complete turns of said wire, and wherein each stem is upset adjacent both ends of its socket to retain each stem in its socket.

5. A garment frame as claimed in claim 3 wherein said eyelets comprise a single inverted turn of the wire forming said spreader frame, and

said respective arms are offset slightl relative to said portions to locate said arms and said rod close to the plane of said frame when said bar is swung upwardly.

6. A garment bag frame comprising a flat and substantially rectangular wire loop having two axially aligned eyelets formed in two opposite sides thereof and offset slightly from the plane of said loop; a substantially U-shaped hanger bar consisting of a single length of wire having its terminals bent laterally away from each other and extending through said eyelets and bent to form eyes for pivotally connecting said bar to said frame; the sides of the U-shape of said bar also forming a pair of arms connected together by the bottom of said U-shape portion of said barwhich provides a rod for supporting garment hangers; each of said arms having a coiled portion providing a socket; and a pair of suspending hooks connected to said bar, each of said hooks having a stem extending into, and retained in but tumable relatively to, one of said sockets, said arms, rod portion, and sockets of said hanger bar lying in substantially the same plane as the terminals thereof, and the axes of the stems of said hooks extending transversely to the axis of said terminals, the construction and arrangement being such that said hooks may be turned to lie in the plane of said bar and said bar and the hooks connected thereto may be swung so that both said bar and said hooks will lie closely adjacent to and in substantially the same plane as said loop.

'7. In combination, a garment, bag comprising a top spreader frame formed of a rectangular loop of wire adapted to lie in a horizontal plane; a protective covering having top and side portions draped over said top spreader frame with said top resting against said frame; a U-shaped hanger bar of wire extending between opposite sides of said frame and pivoted thereto about a horizontal axis located substantially in the plane of said frame, whereby said hanger bar may swing into substantially the plane of said frame; a supporting hook extending from said hanger bar through an aperture in said top; a swivel connection between said hook and said hanger bar, said connection comprising a socket formed of wire turns of said bar, lying in the central plane of said U-shaped hanger bar, and being closely adjacent the plane of said spreader frame, the longitudinal axis of said socket being perpendicular to the plane of said spreader frame; astem at the lower end of said hook secured within said socket but rotatable relatively thereto; and an elastic washer reenforcing said aperture and having an opening therein snugly fitting said extending portion, for permitting said pivoting and swiveling while preserving said air-tightness.

RALPH R. SMITH. 

